Howard L. James
Howard L. James and his brother-in-law, William J. Porter (November 30, 1931–June 1993), committed a series of burglaries in Camden late in 1957. They were arrested separately in December of that year and admitted to the crimes after being interrogated.
Howard L. James Held on Burglary Charge
Camden Courier-Post —
Howard L. James, 25, of Fogarty ave., who police said was found hiding behind a workbench in a service station at 920 Cooper st. early Wednesday, was held in default of $10,000 bail for further hearing Friday on a charge of breaking and entering. Det. Clifford Del Rossi asked the continuance for further investigation.
Man, 25, Held On 6 Counts of Break Trys
Camden Courier-Post —
City Court Scene:
As a result of investigation by detectives, Howard L. James, 25, of Fogarty ave., was held without bail by Municipal Judge Marino today on six charges of breaking and entry.
James pleaded guilty to breaking into a gas station at 920 Cooper st. early last Wednesday, but not guilty to five other breaking jobs the previous night.
Det. Sgt. Stewart Patterson and Det. Clifford Del Rossi, testified the other breaking and entries were at the offices of the Fitwell Coat Co., Asam Bros., the Camden Ink and Color Co., Inc., Cutler Metal Products Co. and Wilkie Faust & Son, all in a building at 1001–11 Market st.
All the offices were ransacked, the detectives said, and $40 plus $6 worth of stamps were stolen from the ink company office.
Ptl. James Large testified he caught James red handed in the gas station, and said James carried a hammer, a chisel and a screwdriver. The detectives testified that the state police laboratory, at Trenton, had made microscopic examination of slivers of glass found in James’ shoes and trouser cuffs, and had reported they were similar to glass broken in the office building.
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Breaking and entry charges against three men were dismissed by Judge Marino, who said that there was insufficient evidence to support the charges.
The three are Ernest Ewing, 37, of the 1900 block Kossuth st.; Herbert Johnson, 27, of the 700 block Ferry ave., and Isaac Roberts, 26, also of the 700 block Ferry ave.
Ptl. Joseph Whylings testified he arrested Ewing in the ruins of an Acme Food Market at 752 Ferry ave. on Nov. 30, the day after it was wrecked by fire. Detectives said they arrested the other two after questioning Ewing.
Det. Sgt. Patterson testified the other two admitted picking up meats left outside the store after the fire, but Joseph Rourke, Acme district manager, testified the meats were to be thrown away, and that nothing of value was stolen from the burned out market. City Prosecutor Joseph Asbell agreed with Judge Marino that there was no evidence of breaking and entering, as legally defined.
Two Suspects Held in Bail of $25,000 Each
Camden Courier-Post —
10 Burglaries:
Two suspects, linked by police with 10 burglaries in the city during the last 6 weeks, were held in $25,000 bail each today by Municipal Judge Marino.
Held on one count each, pending a continuing investigation and a further hearing Tuesday, the men were identified as William J. Porter, 26, of Fern st. near 8th, and Howard James, 25, of Fogarty ave. near Federal st.
Marino commended police work in cracking the case and four detectives assigned to it, Marshall Thompson, Thomas Scarduzio, George Ellis and Russell Young.
James, a brother-in-law of Porter, was in the county jail to await grand jury action on a charge of breaking into a Cooper st. service station Dec. 11, police said, when the case broke Wednesday.
Street Attack Suspect
Porter was wanted for questioning in the stabbing of Miss Joann Green, 19, of 313 Chestnut st., Tuesday night, according to police.
Scarduzio said police searched Porter’s house Tuesday night but he could not be found. However, Scarduzio said, Ptl. Richard Brooks picked up a cash box in the house.
Wednesday, when the box was shown to Sgt. Earl Quinton, he suggested it may have been taken from the Asam Wallpaper Co., 1001 Market st., Nov. 17, according to Scarduzio. The box was later identified as the one taken from that concern, Scarduzio added.
Caught at Gun-Point
Detectives returned to the house Wednesday in an effort to pick up Porter. While Thompson and Young covered the front of the house, Scarduzio went to the back. Scarduzio said he apprehended Porter at gun-point as Porter fled from a rear door.
A search of the place by daylight turned up loot believed connected with robberies in which the two suspects are implicated, Thompson said. Included in the find were 20 new paint brushes, barber shop supplies and a letter scale.
At first, Porter denied any knowledge of breaking and entering, Thompson stated. James was brought from the jail and questioned by Thompson more than three hours. Thompson said James finally admitted the jobs and implicated Porter, who later confirmed James’ statements, Thompson said.
Thompson reported James admitted breaking into a grocery at 635 Carman st. Nov. 2 and looting a barber shop at 303 S. 3rd st. of $304 in equipment Nov. 9.
Other Victims
The two of them allegedly broke into the office of an engineering firm Nov. 7, taking a computing machine valued at $500 and took $650 in appliances from Thrifty Buyers Store, 313 Market st., Nov. 13.
The wallpaper firm was entered Nov. 17 when $712 in cash and $200 worth of postage stamps was taken. On Dec. 10, they purportedly entered Asam’s again and ransacked the second-floor offices of Camden Ink and Color Co. and Cutler Metal Co.; the Fitwell Coat Co. on the third floor, and the Wilkie W. Faust Co., next door at 1011 Market st.
Scarduzio said a warrant has been issued for Porter’s wife, Jean, charging her with assault and battery on the Green girl. The girl underwent an emergency operation Tuesday night in Cooper Hospital, after being left there by Porter, Scarduzio said.
Police also disclosed that Porter was wanted on an assault and battery warrant issued on complaint of his wife.
12 Burglaries Confessed by 2 Relatives
Camden Courier-Post —
A 26-year-old North Camden man has confessed to 12 recent burglaries, including the $800 burglary of the Camden Realty Co., 722 Federal st., on Nov. 3. Det. Lt. William Neale said.
William J. Porter, of Fern st. near 8th, and his brother-in-law Howard James, 25, of Fogarty ave. near Federal st., were held in $25,000 bail Thursday, for further hearing, by Municipal Judge Marino. Porter told detectives he also broke into a beauty salon at 726 Federal st., last Christmas.
Porter and James, Neale said, have admitted to working together on eight burglaries, and are also charged with two sole burglaries each. Both men will be given a hearing Tuesday by Judge Marino. Porter also faces a charge of assault and battery, brought by his wife, Jean.